This story, my 25th, is part creation narrative, part examination of the human condition. Heaven or hell, knowing and not knowing; the ability to see and be everything God wants us to see or be; this is the struggle I examine here within these pages. I hope that by writing, reading and eventualy publishing this story in its entirty, it will do for others what it did for me.

The After
by M. James Cooper

The after comes when the years go by and the days turn into days after the coming of new eyes, new skin, reborn souls and new hopes. This world has been in existence for quite some time. The mistakes, dissolving of truths and violence that feed and assault its nature give no ease to the burden of beings. Living is made hard, happiness avoided, and suffering at our fingertips. Ground tumbles, fires burn, reason speaks and seas part daily but consciousness is disregarded, no pair of eyes notice, and permissiveness is praised. Branches give their leaves away like unwanted offspring and mothers cry despite the pain they knew it would bring. A sort of rebirth, everyday a newness, the sun delivers his light and we beg for more. More blessing, more please; wanting for everlasting life because we cannot wait for it to be earned. Rains fall like men do from mountains and give seed to a new thing, sinking beneath the ground, eventually, becoming food for the trees that will give us more leaves. But only after, they know what sacrifice is for, only after, and revelation gives warning of the beast can we know what the days were for....